Does someone need to be officially certified as a ""private detective"" or ""private investigator"" by law enforcement in order to call themselves one?

The law enforcement community is not involved in designating the title of a person who has secured a private investigative license. All the Investigative Service Agencies issuing licenses do so with the words “private investigator.” Upon receipt of the license, you can designate yourself as a “private investigator.” Once obtained, you then need to establish what your company name will be called.

The term “detective” originated from the ranks of law enforcement. PI licensees rarely use it in their daily activities, business cards, stationery, reports, or business offices.